From the Head of School

 

What should we continue?

Due to the hygiene restrictions and the vaccine roll out, the number of Covid related daily deaths in the UK is now a small fraction of what they were in January.  In fact, they are at a lower level than they have been for many years, despite the continuing pandemic.   

Many of the measures that we took to combat the pandemic are in fact healthier and worth keeping.  In the Far East, Covid-19 was only the latest in a line of coronaviruses from SARS to Bird Flu.  This time round they were better prepared because their buildings were already well ventilated, and people already had the habit of wearing masks when they had a cold or sore throat.

Before the end of the month, we will start outdoor after school activities again (in bubbles - as we did before the end of the winter break).  Next Friday, we will have High School Field Day (outside and according to regulations).  And although this week has been a bit chillier, Spring has allowed more lessons outside.  Being outside, bringing fresh air in, but also taking care when we are under the weather not to spread our germs - washing our hands more regularly, these are all things that shouldn’t stop just because they are no longer government requirements.  

It is not just healthier habits that are a positive take away.  None of us have liked online communication all the time - nothing beats face to face - but sometimes there are definite advantages.  Attendance at parent teacher conferences and information sessions has gone through the roof, as travel times are cut from consideration.  The events themselves have felt more efficient: no one is lost on the wrong corridor, appointments don’t overrun.  

There are downsides.  We miss the spontaneous and the informal, the reading of body language, the greater feeling of community which you get from physical proximity.  Certainly when things get back to normal we want parents back on campus and in the building.  The question is how we balance the efficiency and flexibility of the digital with the greater sense of community we get from face to face.  

On Tuesday, the First Minister expressed her hope that Scotland would be in Tier 0 by July, with perhaps no restrictions at all from Autumn. Of course, we have learnt to be certain of nothing, while planning for several eventualities.  Whatever happens, we will never return to exactly the way things were before.  We can always take the positives with us.